Medieval Knight's Bronze Heraldic Horse Harness Pendant Group

Comprising a square-section upright with pierced finial, crosspiece with chip-carved ornament; handle with knop finial. 163 grams, 30 cm



New York, USA, trade, 2010. From a private collection, Suffolk, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

A pair of copper or brass gilt plaques with openwork representation of two nimbate Evangelists, holding a gospel with the left hand, the right hand raised for blessing and manifestation of the divine and human nature of God, appliques for a belt or a personal ornament, four fastening holes at the corners. 13.80 grams total, 61 mm each

Fine condition.

Ex central London gallery; acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The medieval Kingdom of Serbia was in its material culture strongly under the influence of Byzantium, but had also undergone cultural and artistic developments from western countries. The decoration - especially the technique of filigree and granulation, and the ornamental motifs and their composition - shows some similarities both to the Byzantine and to the Western gold work of the 11th–13th century. The openwork decoration of these objects is similar to the foliage represented on one sarcophagus positioned against the south wall of the church of St Demetrius, in the Patriarchate of Peć, dated to the 14th century AD.

Teardrop-shaped in profile with integral loop, reserved high-relief addorsed animals on a gilt field. 11.4 grams, 35 mm



Found East Anglia, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.